Occupational Illnesses

Washington — OSHA is no longer enforcing its COVID-19 recordkeeping and reporting requirements, the agency announced in a Feb. 5 memo.

Washington — Citing technological advancements, a recent NIOSH policy update calls on employers to use “individual, quantitative fit testing” to assess the effectiveness of workers’ hearing protection devices.

Salem, OR — Avoiding unprotected direct or close physical contact with sick/dead animals and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment are two key ways workers can limit their risk of contracting bird flu.

Washington — The health risks and symptoms of exposure to jet fuel are the focus of a new report recently sent to Congress by the Veterans Administration’s Health Outcomes Military Exposures service.

Morgantown, WV — What role might artificial intelligence play in occupational medicine? Two researchers from West Virginia University recently explored this question.

New York — OSHA’s New York City Region has renewed its emphasis program on worker exposure to noise.

Washington — OSHA has extended for another year its National Emphasis Program on outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards

Washington — OSHA has terminated its rulemaking on COVID-19 exposure in health care settings to “focus its resources on the completion of an infectious diseases rulemaking.”

Washington — The Department of Labor has revised the Black Lung Benefits Act to require self-insured coal mine operators to “post adequate security for their benefit liabilities.”

Waltham, MA — The number of heat-related illnesses “increases significantly” once the temperature rises above 80° F, results of a recent analysis from the Workers Compensation Research Institute show.